Bipolar Disorder
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Ocean View Neuropsychiatry
Child Psychiatrists located in Newport Beach, CA
While bipolar disorder is most often diagnosed in young adults, children and teenagers can develop this potentially disruptive mental health condition. At Ocean View Neuropsychiatry in Laguna Beach and Irvine, California, Ashraf Elmashat, MD, and Mohamed Yaser Elatrozy, MD, diagnose and treat bipolar disorders, helping your child to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. If you’re concerned that your child’s emotional swings are interfering with their life, call Ocean View Neuropsychiatry or make an appointment online today.
Bipolar Disorder Q & A
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition in which irregularities in your brain chemistry create dramatic mood swings between depression and mania. While everyone experiences a range of emotions, bipolar disorder symptoms are extreme and disruptive.
There are three types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar I causes extreme mood swings between depression and euphoria. Bipolar II also causes mood swings, but the manic episodes aren’t as severe and are classified as hypomanic. Cyclothymic disorder is the mildest form of the condition, with shorter bouts of depression and hypomania.
Young people who have bipolar disorder are likely to experience other mental health issues such as anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and substance abuse.
What are the signs of bipolar disorder in young people?
Bipolar disorder symptoms vary depending on whether your child is having a manic or depressive episode.
Manic symptoms include:
- Acting animated in a way that is abnormal for them, or other people their age
- Short temper
- Talking very quickly and changing subjects frequently
- Not sleeping well, but also not feeling tired
- Decreased concentration
- Risky or impulsive behaviors
Depressive symptoms include:
- Feelings of extreme sadness or hopelessness
- Complaints of stomach aches and headaches
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Preoccupation with death or suicide
Hypomanic symptoms are similar to manic episodes but not as extreme. Your child may also have periods of normal moods between depressive and manic episodes.
How is bipolar disorder treated?
At Ocean View Neuropsychiatry Dr. Elmashat and Dr. Elatrozy provide customized treatment plans to regulate your child’s moods and help them lead a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life.
In most cases, treatment for bipolar disorder combines medication and therapy. Medication can help regulate your child’s brain chemistry and reduce their symptoms, which gives them the mental and emotional space to focus on therapy and learn to change their behavior and manage their emotions and routines.
Dr. Elmashat and Dr. Elatrozy believe in using the lowest dose of medication necessary for young people. Additionally, they’ve found that steady treatment provides the best and most sustainable results for children and their families.
If you’re concerned about your child’s emotional swings, call Ocean View Neuropsychiatry or schedule a consultation online today.
